healthbriefs
Benefit-Boosting Broccoli Sprouts
B
roccoli has become a gold medal contend- er among vegetables, so how often should we eat it to reap all of its health benefits? Eliza- beth Jeffery, a University of Illinois professor of nutritional sciences, explains: “Broccoli, pre- pared correctly, is an extremely potent cancer- fighting agent—three to five servings a week are enough to have an effect. To get broccoli’s benefits, though, the enzyme myrosinase has to be present; if not, sulforaphane, broccoli’s cancer-preventive and anti-inflammatory com- ponent, doesn’t form.” According to Jeffery, myrosinase is often
destroyed by overcooking. Health-conscious consumers that use broccoli powder supple- ments in recipes to boost their nutrition also are missing out, she says, because the supplements often do not contain the needed enzyme. A solution: Jeffery suggests incorporating fresh broccoli sprouts into our
diet. Available at most grocery and health food stores, the sprouts contain abundant myrosinase.
Source: University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
BETTER BONES FOR KIDS WITH CELIAC DISEASE
C
eliac disease (CD) is an inherited intestinal disorder characterized by a lifelong intolerance to the ingestion of gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and other grains. Although it can occur at any age, CD most commonly afflicts children ages 9 to 24 months, and one of its common complications is metabolic bone disease. Reduced bone mineral density can lead to the in- ability to develop optimal bone mass in children and the loss of bone in adults, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
A recent article in the journal Nu-
MINTY RELIEF FOR IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
R
esearch published in the journal Pain validates peppermint—an herb com-
monly prescribed by naturopaths for stomach ills—as a natural and effective remedy for irritable bowel syndrome; IBS is a gastrointestinal disorder that causes abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and/ or constipation. The researchers report that the mint activates an “anti-pain” channel in the colon and soothes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.
Source: University of Adelaide (Australia) Nerve Gut Research Laboratory
14 Chicago North & North Shore
www.NAChicagoNorth.com
trition Reviews stated that a gluten-free diet promotes a rapid increase in bone mineral density and leads to complete recovery of bone mineralization in children. If a CD diagnosis and treatment is established before puberty, children may attain normal peak bone mass, which can prevent osteoporosis in later life. Nutritional supple- ments of calcium and vita-
min D further appear to increase the bone mineral density of children and adolescents. A gluten-free diet also improves, though rarely normalizes, bone mineral density in adults with CD.
“Our findings reinforce the impor- tance of a strict gluten-free diet, which remains the only scientific proven treat- ment for CD to date,” the authors con- clude. “Early diagnosis and therapy are critical in preventing CD complications like reduced bone mineral density.”
Source: Wiley-Blackwell
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